Paper detector for printing machines



J. A. HULT PAPER DETECTOR FOR PRINTING MACHINES April 19, 1927. 1;625',256

Filed May 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 SIMntov H a 2. h.

1,625,256 April 19, 1927. J A. HULT PAPER DETECTOR FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed May 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwwz'ntoz FIG QM fl ma Jada wwfiw 1,625,256 April 19, 1927. J. A. HULT PAPER DETECTOR FOR PRINTING MACHINES F'il ed May 20, 6 1 s Sheets-Sheet s QMM Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

JOHN A. H ULT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MULTIGRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PAPER DETECTOR FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

Application filed May 20, 1926. Serial No. 110,432.

This invention is concerned particularly wltha paper detecting device suitable for use on a rotary printing machine and adapted to prevent the platen being active when I paper is absent; The invei'ition is well adapted for embodiment in a rotary addressing machine of the type shown in application No. 100,224 filed April 7th, 1926 by John A. Hult. In that machine there is a rotary drum carrying a body form for printing a circular letter and also a changeable address form, the body l'orm and address l'orm cooperating with one platen to print an addressed letter and the address i'orm alone cooperating with a separate platen to print the address on an envelope. When embodied in such machine, the mechanism of this invention prevents the envelope platen acting except when an envelope is present, the actionoccurring at the time the address plate is in proper position rela tive to the envelope platen to print only the address. Such embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings hereof and is hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a rotary addressing machine of the type referred to, equipped with this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof, as indicated by the line 22 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an approximately horizontal section of a portion of the machine, as indicated by. the offset line on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 49-4 on Fig. 1 looking in the opposite direction to Fig.2; Fig. 5 is a prospective of the envelope pocket and adjacent portions of the detecting device.

I will first describe briefly the general nature of the printing machine shown, and then my detecting mechanism which 'cooperates with such printing machine and causes the normally idle platen to become active only if an envelope is present.

As shown in the drawings, the printing machine proper is of the type of the multigraph and comprises a rotary drum 10 mounted on a shaft 11, 'journalled in end frame plates 12 and'13 above a roller platen 14; mounted'on a shaft 15. Gearing 16 and 17 and an Oldham coupling part-1y indicated at 18, connect the drum and platen. Any

suitable means, as for example a crank 19, 15 provided for rotating the drum and platen.

I have shown mounted on the drum a means for printing the body of a form letter, such means comprising a blanket 20 (in dicated conventionally in Fig. 2 and a por-. tion of which is shown in Fig. 1) stretched It will be seen that in the construction described, when the drum is rotated, as by means of the crank, paper fed between the drum and platen may be printed by the type characters through the ribbon. The paper may be fed by hand or in some automatic manner as desired.

. The body of the drum adjacent one edge of the segment 1-() is shown in Fig. 2 as provided with a pair of longitudinal channels 30, 31 for the reception of the address plate 32. This plate may be of the form shown having an arcuate intermediate region and depressed edge portions under-curled on themselves for strength, and adapted to occupy thechannels 30 and 31 when it is shoved e'ndwise into place. .Between these channels is a portion of thg drum providing a support for the intermediate portion of the plate. The plate, which is shown conventionally may if desired have raised projections like the blanket and carry similar embossed printing strips.

The address plates may be inserted manually or in another manner as desired, a difl'erent plate for each rotation. The prior applicationreferred to shows a convenient mechanism enabling the manual installation and removal of the address plate.

As heretofore mentioned, the paper may be fed manually or automatically as desired. The drawing illustrates at and 91 a pair of feed rolls connected by gearing 93 with the platen and operating to progress the paper to the region between the drum and the platen. The drawing also shows an ejector roll 95 geared with the drum and coacting with a stripper spring 96, but these parts are shown merely incidentally.

The mechanism described enables the simultaneous printing of the body and, address of an addressed letter through an inking ribbon with comparative rapidity. Mechanism which I will now describe is provided to enable the envelope to be printed from the same address plate while in its position on the drum.

The envelope printing platen, designated is a rotary member adjacent the drum, at.

the rear thereof on an axis parallel therewith and having such arcuate extent as will coact with the address portion only of the address plate and not engage the salutation, should there be one on the plate. This platen 50 is normally idle but is arranged at the proper time to rotate in cooperation with the address plate at the same peripheral speed. To this end, I provide the platen 50 loose on a shaft 51, and driven by a gear 52 meshing with the gear 17 on the drum. The platen is connectible for rotation with the gear 52 by a single rotation clutch desiguated 60 as a whole.

The clutch is best shown in Fig. 3. That figure shows the gear 52 journalled on a stud 55 mounted in an extension of the end plate 13. One memberof the clutch consists of a disk rigid' with this gear 52 and shown as pinned to a hub on the gear; another member consists of a disk 61 rigid with the platen; a third member comprises an intermediate disk 62 having radial ribs 63 occupying corresponding grooves in the disk 61 (after the manner of an Oldham coupling),

-tion 105 to which is anchored a tension spring 106. This arm has an overhanging hp 107 which bears against a compression spring 108, the other end of which bears against an arm 110, also pivoted at 104. The action of the cam accordingly is to raise the roller and swin the arm 110 toward the drum if the arm is free to move, otherwise to com ress the spring 108.

T e um 1 1Q is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a latch arm 120 which is a rock arm on a shaft 121 which carries another rock arm 122 constituting a detecting finger. Extending between the drum and envelope platen is a pocket 130 for the envelope to be printed, comprising a substantially vertical front plate 131 and a rear plate 132 back of the front plate, extending vertically and then curved over the top of the platen. The detector finger, when no envelope 'is present, extends through openings 135 in the pocket as shown in Fig. 2, being held in that position by the light coiled spring 125 acting on the rock shaft 121. Thefinger in such position holds the latch arm 120 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, to prevent the action of'the arm 110. Whenever an envelope is dropped into the pocket, it swings the detecting finger 122 downwardly and thus rocks the latch arm 120 free from the arm 110. Under these circumstances when the cam 101 acts on the roller 102, the arm 110 is moved toward the drum.

When the arm 110 is moved as just described, it is withdrawn from the clutch pin and the spring 66 forces the clutch pin into action, thus locking the platen shaft 51 to the driving pinion 52 and giving the platen 50 oneeompletc rotation to print the address on the envelope. p

Before the printing of the envelope is com pleted, the cam 101 will have cleared the roller 102 and the arm 110 will have been returned by a suitable spring to the position of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, where its beveled edge 111 will engage the collar 67 on the clutch pin and thus the clutch withdraws itself from action as the rotation is completed, stopping the driving of the platen 50. The spring 106 may effect this return by means of a lip 109 on the arm 105 overhanging the front edge of the arm 110.

The platen50 operates through a wide opening 135 in the pocket and feeds the envelope upwardly and rearwardly so that 1t is discharged over theportion 132 of the pocket plate. As soon as the envelope is thus lifted from the bottom of the pocket the detector arm is free and returns by rea son of the light spring on the shaft .121 to normal position, thus returning the catch to hold the arm 110. I

In order to stop the envelope platen immediately upon the withdrawal of the clutch pin 65 so that the platen will. be in proper position for subseguent engagement, a fri'ction brake constantly acting on the platen is provided. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3. this comprises 11011-F0tal11ble disk 70 slidably mounted on a supporting stud 80 and pressed by springs 81 against a leather washer82 between the disk and the adjacent end of the platen. As shown in Fig. 3, the springs 81 aremounted in cavities in screws locatedj an extension of the end plate 12. The' brake described gives a constant friction suflicient to stop the platen immediately when the clutch pin is withdrawn, but not suflicient to add any material load to the drive when the clutch 1s engaged.

To enable the printing pressure of the envelope platen to be readily adjusted, I may mount the shaft 51 of this platen eccentrically in the studs 55 and 80 heretofore mentioned. These studs are normally stationary, but may be turned axially to shift the axis of rotation of the shaft 51, knurled heads 85 being provided on the studs for this purpose. The studs are shown as locked in place by set screws 86. I

It will be seen that my paper detecting mechanism is very simple in construction, at

the same time it is effective to insure the action of the envelope platen at the proper time, whenever an envelope is present and prevent such action it there be no envelope. Accordingly, the complete machine may be used without reference to the envelope to print addressed circular letters whenever desired; while, if an envelope is inserted in the pocket, it is printed with the address corresponding to a letter just being printed. Such envelope when discharged may drop onto the corresponding letter, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a form for the body of a letter, a changeable form for an address. a platen coactingwith both forms, a second platen adapted to cooperate with the ad-. dress form only, and a paper detector responsive to the presence or absence of an envelope for controlling the envelopeplaten. The combination of a bed-having a body form and a changeable address form, a platenadapted to cooperate with both forms, a second platen adapted to coact with the address form only, a clutch for controlling the movement of the second platen, and a paper detector responsive to the presence or absence of an envelope for controlling the clutch.

3. The combination with means for hold ing a body form and a changeable address form, of a platen adapted to coact with both forms, a second platen to coact with the address torm only, said second platen being normally idle, a clutch for connecting the second platen with movable driving means, mechanism operable for each cycle oi operation of the machine tending to connect the clutch, and a paper detector-adapted when the envelope is absent to prevent the operation of the last mentioned mechanism.

4. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a segmental platen cooperable therewith, means for positioning an envelope between the platen and drum while out of coaction, and mechanism adapted to be actuated by I the envelope for controlling the platen.

5. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a normally idle segmental platen adapted to coact therewith, a pocket for positioning an envelope between the drumand platen, and mechanism engaged by the envelope when in the pocket to cause the operation of the platen.

6. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a normally idle platen, a. clutch for controlling the platen, an envelope positioning pocket between the platen and drum, and mechanism extending into said pocket and adapted to be actuated by the envelope for controlling the clutch.

7.-The combination of a rotary printing drum, a platen adapted to coact therewith, means for supporting an envelope in substantially upright position between the drum and platen, and mechanism engaged by the envelope when so supported to cause the operation of the platen.

8. The combination of a rotary. printing drum, a normally idle platen cooperable therewith, a normally disconnected clutch for controlling the movement of the platen, acam on the drum, mechanism operable thereby once on each rotation for rendering the clutch active, and a paper detector adapted to prevent the operation of the clutch actuating mechanism when thepaper is absent.-

9. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a platenadaptedto coact therewith, a paper guide between the drum and platen into which an envelope may be inserted and out of which the platen and drum may feed it in the opposite direction, and means engaged by such envelope when inserted for controlling the coaction of the drum and platen.

10. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a segmental platen mounted on a parallel axis about which it is adapted to rotate, means for driving the platen, including a normally disconnected clutch, a paper guide extending between the drum and platen into which-an envelope may be inserted, and out of which the platen and drum may feed it in the opposite direction, and means engaged by such envelope when inserted for controlling the clutch.

11. The combination of a rotary printing drum, a platen adapted to coact therewith, an envelope guide between the drum and platen into which the envelope may be inserted and out of which it may be fed in the opposite direction, a lever adapted to be engaged by the envelope when so inserted, and means whereby the lever controls the platen.

12. lhe combination of a rotarv printing '(lrum, a segmental platen adapte dlo coact therewith, means for driving the plate including a normally disconnected clutch, an envelope guide between the drum and platen into which the envelope may be inserted and out of which it may be fed in the opposite direction, a lever adapted to be engaged by the envelope when so inserted, and means whereby the lever controls the release of the clutch.

13. The combination of a rotary printing drum, :1 segmental platen mounted on a parallel axis and normally idle, means for driving the platen including a normally disconnected clutch, a cam on the drum, mechanism operable thereby for setting the clutch.

an envelope guide between the drum and platen into which an envelope may be inserted and out of which it may be fed in the opposite direction when the platen is active, a lever adapted to be engaged by the envelope when in the guide, and mechanism for preventing the actuation of the clutch, said preventing mechanism being movable by said lever to idle position.

l t. The combination of a rotary printing drum mounted on a horizontal axis. a rotary platen on a horizontal axis parallel with the drum axis and spaced horizontally therefrom, an upwardly opening substantially vertical paper guide between the drum and platen, said guide having a support for the lower edge of an envelope inserted from above into the guide, and :1 means adapted to be engaged by the envelope when so insorted for controlling the platen.

15. The combination of: a rotary printing drum, a segmental platen alongside oi the same, an envelope pocket between the two, open above and having a support for the lower edge of the envelope and having an opening through which the platen may act. a detector extending into said pocket, and

mechanism operated by the detector for controlling the activity of the platen.

16. The combination of a rotary printing drum, :1 platen alongside of the same, an envelope pocket between the two, comprising two adjacent separated plates, one of which has an opening through which the platen may act, a detector extending into said pocket, and mechanism operated by the detector for controlling the activity of the platen.

17. The con'ibination of a rotary printing drum mounted on a horizontal axis, a segmental platen on a horizontal axis at one side oi the drum, an envelope support and guide between the two opening upwardly and extending over the platen to act as a discharge guide, a paper detecting lever adapted to engage an envelope in the guide, and mechanism controlled by the lever for controlling the action of the platen.

18. The combination of a rotary printing, drum mounted on a horizontal axis, a segn'iental platen on a horizontal axis at one side of the drum. an envelope pocket between the two comprising a pair of separated plates one of which curves over the platen to act as a discharge guide, said plate having an opening through which the platen may act, a paper detector adapted to extend through an opening in said plate into the pocket, a clutch for controlling the rotation of the platen, mechanism operable by the rotation of the drum for periodically setting the clutch, and mechanism for preventing the operation of the clutch-operating mechanism, said preventing mechanism being connected with and operated by the paper detector.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN A. HULT. 

